Distended Abdomen

[IrishHeart]

Oh no, some of us really have no butts. Just legs that go up to the trunk, nothing in between!

Oh I know, I lost mine, too for a while....just a flat, painful, weak pancake. I could not sit or lie down or walk comfortably for 3 years. No joke. The doctors had no explanation and suggested a scooter to get around and to take drugs. I said that's not an answer...what the hell is CAUSING it? (well, we know now) My sitz bones, gluteals, sciatica, piriformis muscles and hamstring attachments, the IT-band, quads, calf muscles EVERYTHING --excruciating BURNING pain. My entire pelvic floor was affected. I cried every day from the pain. The MT (who is also a nurse) and the PT (who is specialty- trained in pelvic floor disorders) both said they have never seen muscular wasting like I experienced. I am in rehab to restore massive lost muscle mass. 2X a week for the last year. And exercises and strengthening every day. It is grueling, but I make slow progress.I had to find those people myself to start this process and get back to a "normal life". I am almost like a kid learning to walk and move all over again. I was a dancer, a swimmer and --I had to stop all of that. My muscles would not work and I was burning 24/7. A soup can was heavy.

And in the past few months --after being gluten-free for a year---there IS a butt coming back. And definition to the muscles that became like wet noodles. And less pain. I use 2 lb. weights now. 10 whole reps! I have great hope.

[dilettantesteph]

I have been over 4 years gluten free and can now eat dairy again. I still have a totally flat belly. It was huge before. I used to get asked if I was pregnant when I wasn't, and I was pretty thin too. Just wanted people to know that a flat belly with dairy is possible.

[Bubba's Mom]

Oh I know, I lost mine, too for a while....just a flat, painful, weak pancake. I could not sit or lie down or walk comfortably for 3 years. No joke. The doctors had no explanation and suggested a scooter to get around and to take drugs. I said that's not an answer...what the hell is CAUSING it? (well, we know now) My sitz bones, gluteals, sciatica, piriformis muscles and hamstring attachments, the IT-band, quads, calf muscles EVERYTHING --excruciating BURNING pain. My entire pelvic floor was affected. I cried every day from the pain. The MT (who is also a nurse) and the PT (who is specialty- trained in pelvic floor disorders) both said they have never seen muscular wasting like I experienced. I am in rehab to restore massive lost muscle mass. 2X a week for the last year. And exercises and strengthening every day. It is grueling, but I make slow progress.I had to find those people myself to start this process and get back to a "normal life". I am almost like a kid learning to walk and move all over again. I was a dancer, a swimmer and --I had to stop all of that. My muscles would not work and I was burning 24/7. A soup can was heavy.

And in the past few months --after being gluten-free for a year---there IS a butt coming back. And definition to the muscles that became like wet noodles. And less pain. I use 2 lb. weights now. 10 whole reps! I have great hope.

Add me to the list of those who've lost their butts! It's now flat with a bit of droopy skin at the bottom. My legs and arms are twigs. Chest has flattened too.

I used to hoist the 30# bag of dog food onto my shoulder and carry it into the house from my car. Now I can't lift it.

I want a ba-donk-a-donk butt!

IrishHeart..I'nm so glad you've finnally got the right people helping you come back to health. It's a long road when you've gotten as weak as you did.

[Aly1]

My tummy got flat after 2 or 3 months of gluten-free - but now at 5 months it's suddenly ballooned up again. I've been trying to figure out if I've been doing anything differently and I can't say that I have. I can't figure it out. Hope it goes away again !

[dilettantesteph]

My tummy got flat after 2 or 3 months of gluten-free - but now at 5 months it's suddenly ballooned up again. I've been trying to figure out if I've been doing anything differently and I can't say that I have. I can't figure it out. Hope it goes away again !

I found that the longer I was gluten free, the more sensitive I got to lower levels of gluten. Symptoms returned without me changing anything. I had to change things to make the symptoms go away again.

What helped was to keep a food/symptoms journal. That helped connect the symptoms to certain food items. It also helped to become more aware of possible low level cc issues.

I hope you figure things out. It's no good going around looking pregnant when you aren't.

[Aly1]

I found that the longer I was gluten free, the more sensitive I got to lower levels of gluten. Symptoms returned without me changing anything. I had to change things to make the symptoms go away again.

What helped was to keep a food/symptoms journal. That helped connect the symptoms to certain food items. It also helped to become more aware of possible low level cc issues.

I hope you figure things out. It's no good going around looking pregnant when you aren't.

Well I am used to dressing the belly (loose shirts are a staple!) since I've done it all my life! I just discovered I have problems now with onions, maybe that's what was doing it? We'll see...

[cap6]

You mean I might have a butt someday? !!!

lol My flat one has always been a joke in our circle of friends. My daughter once offered to buy me "butt pads" to round me out!